Vancouver, BC (Canada), September 12, 2019: The most prestigious and coveted awards in Punjabi literature, The Dhahan Prize, were announced here on Thursday.
Jatinder Singh Haans (Aloona Tola, Punjab, India) won the first prize of $25,000 for his collection of short stories titled ‘Jyona Sach Baki Jhooth (‘Living is Truth, All Else a Lie’), ਜਿਊਣਾ ਸੱਚ ਬਾਕੀ ਝੂਠ , جیوؤنا سچ باقی جھوٹ’.
The other winners were: Finalist: $10,000: Shahmukhi Script Kaun, ਕੌਣ, کون (‘Who’), a Novelette by Mudassar Bashir (Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan);
Mudassar Bashir
Finalist: $10,000: Gurmukhi script Aam Khaas ਆਮ-ਖ਼ਾਸ عام خاص, (‘Ordinary Extraordinary’), a collection of short stories by Gurdev Singh, Rupana, Punjab, India.
Gurdev Singh Rupana
“The 2019 Dhahan Prize winning works challenge us to grapple with three questions – what is truth, what is ordinary and extraordinary in peoples’ daily lives and who are we if we don’t know our history,” said Barj S. Dhahan, Founder of the Prize.
“These stories are outstanding examples of the depth and breadth of the literary talent of the three authors.”
The Dhahan Prize is the largest literary award celebrating the rich history of the Punjabi language. The Prize aims to inspire the creation of Punjabi literature across borders, bridging Punjabi communities around the world, and promoting Punjabi literature on a global scale.
The awards garner critical acclaim and significant exposure for aspiring and established writers, setting the stage for its select winners to reach broader multilingual audiences.
The Dhahan Prize was established in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Punjabi people, language, and culture have a rich history.
Punjabi is now the third most spoken language in Canada and is a strong thread in the multicultural fabric of the nation.
The prize has been established by the Canada India Education Society in partnership with the Department of Asian Studies in the Faculty of Arts at University of British Columbia, and is currently funded by Barj, Rita Dhahan, and family and friends.
On November 2, 2019 the prize winners will be honoured at a Prize ceremony and celebration in Vancouver, Canada.